Joined Together, Torn Apart: Why the Church Cannot Look Away
Family separation is not a new issue in immigration policy. But a newly released report from our partners at World Relief and our friends at the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) warns that the scale of separation projected under current immigration policies could impact more than 1.3 million U.S. citizens by 2029.
For Christians who believe families matter deeply to God, this report is both sobering and urgent.
UPDATE: A New Policy Threatens Even More Family Separation
Memorial Day Weekend 2026, a newly released USCIS memo added another alarming layer to the family separation crisis outlined in the Joined Together, Torn Apart report. According to World Relief, the memo would largely halt the longstanding process known as “Adjustment of Status,” which has allowed many immigrants who entered the U.S. lawfully and qualify for permanent residency to remain with their families while their green card applications are processed.
Instead, many spouses, parents, and family members could now be forced to leave the United States and wait abroad — often for months or even years — while their applications are processed overseas. For families from the 75 countries currently facing immigrant visa processing restrictions, these separations could become indefinite.
World Relief President and CEO Myal Greene responded to the memo saying:
“This is the latest step in an effort to systematically dismantle legal immigration, and it will have devastating consequences on families.”
This new policy development reinforces exactly why the church cannot afford to look away. These are not hypothetical scenarios. These are families who are trying to follow the law, remain together, and build stable lives, and many are now facing prolonged separation because of changing immigration policies.
If you want to better understand what’s happening and learn how Christians can advocate for policies that protect family unity, we encourage you to join World Relief’s upcoming advocacy event:
Register here: discover.worldrelief.org/believe-in-more-advocacy
You can also read World Relief’s full response to the memo here:
worldrelief.org/pr-world-relief-laments-cruel-anti-family-immigration-policy-change/
As Christians, our call to defend the dignity of families and pursue compassionate, just policies remains as urgent as ever.
A New Report Sounding the Alarm
The new report, Joined Together, Torn Apart: How U.S. Immigration Policies are Separating Families, examines how current deportation policies, visa restrictions, and halted reunification pathways are already impacting children, spouses, churches, and communities across the United States.
According to the report, if current policy goals continue at the pace projected:
910,000 U.S. citizen children could be separated from one or both parents
272,000 U.S. citizen spouses could be separated from their husband or wife
150,000 spouses and children abroad could remain indefinitely separated from their U.S.-based family members
The report also notes that these numbers do not include many Afghan allies and refugee families still waiting for promised reunification.
Read the full report here. (You can also get more information in this recent press release from World Relief and a conversation between concerned Christian leaders about the impact on our churches and communities.)
Why This Matters to Christians
The report grounds its concern not only in policy analysis, but in Scripture. From Genesis to the teachings of Jesus, family is presented as sacred and foundational. The report points to Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:6: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
This conversation is not simply political. It is pastoral. Behind every statistic is a child wondering if their parent will come home. A spouse facing impossible choices. A church community trying to support families living in fear and uncertainty.
The report is careful to note that this is not an argument against immigration enforcement or secure borders. Rather, it asks whether current approaches unnecessarily harm families and whether there are more humane, effective alternatives that uphold both the rule of law and family unity.
As Women of Welcome often says, compassion and enforcement do not have to be enemies.
The Church Is Already Seeing the Impact
One of the most striking parts of the report is the testimony from pastors, ministry leaders, and practitioners already walking alongside families experiencing separation.
Jacqui Jackson, CEO of Ignite Hope in Atlanta, shared concern over the growing strain on children and foster systems when parents are removed from their homes: “There has to be a better way.”
Pastors in Texas described helping reunite children with deported parents after months of legal and logistical complications. One story detailed a mother deported shortly after giving birth, leaving her newborn behind. These stories are not theoretical. They are happening in churches and communities right now.
We know that many evangelical Christians are paying attention. The report cites Lifeway Research showing that the overwhelming majority of evangelical Christians believe immigration policies should protect the unity of immediate families.
A Conversation with Matthew Soerens
We sat down with Matthew Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief, to discuss the report, the data behind it, and what faithful Christian engagement can look like in this moment for Women of Welcome.
Matthew has long helped Christians navigate immigration conversations with biblical clarity, compassion, and nuance. We’re grateful for his leadership and for the partnership of World Relief and the NAE in bringing attention to this critical issue.
What Can We Do?
The report ends with a challenge to the church: not only to care for families impacted by separation, but also to advocate for policies that better protect family unity.
That includes:
Supporting humane immigration reforms
Encouraging lawmakers to pursue alternatives that preserve families
Advocating for legislation like the bipartisan Dignity Act
Listening to and learning from impacted communities
Refusing to let fear or political polarization numb our compassion
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors not only in sentiment, but in action.
Take Action
If this issue matters to you, here are a few next steps:
Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support policies that protect family unity and pursue humane immigration reform (We have a helpful free guide for you to give you confidence when you advocate).
Share this report with your church, small group, or community
Pray for families currently experiencing separation and uncertainty
Continue learning about immigration through a biblical lens (Check out our Bible studies and how to join a local chapter to go deeper in your own community).
Use your voice at worldrelief.org/advocate/keep-families-together/
Take action today—because family separation should never become normal, and because the church is called to be a people of Christ-like welcome.
